Lessons with Youth Participants in Mikva Challenge Artwork

Lessons in Adolescence

Join us in exploring the many facets of adolescence from the adverse, to the awkward, to the awesome! Host Jason Cascarino and his guests, including educators, researchers, developmental scientists, thought leaders, and other caring adults, tell us why middle school can and should be awesome.

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Lessons in Adolescence

Lessons with Youth Participants in Mikva Challenge

January 25, 2022 • Youth-Nex: Remaking Middle School • Season 2 • Episode 21

This episode features a series of comments and reflections and perspectives on the power of youth voice in helping young adolescents figure out what they care about and who they are, and the worth they see in themselves. First, we hear from Juleny Santa Cruz, Youth Council and Project Manager for Mikva Challenge, a Chicago-based organization that pioneered a type of experiential civics learning programming they call “action civics.” We also hear from researchers and program professionals from the University of Virginia’s Youth-Nex Center for Effective Youth Development: Abby Gillespie, Director of Strategy and Engagement, and postdoctoral research associates Faith Zabek and Ashlee Sjogren. Together, they share the core elements of the Mikva program as well as some of the broader research base on youth voice, calling out its importance in early adolescent development, the role of educators in making room for and amplifying youth voice, and setting up learning environments where youth voice can be elevated to authentic youth participation. We then mostly hear from young people. Ten young adolescents - Hailey, Da’una, Amya, Nelly, Liz, Honesty, Michelle, Xitlali, Luis, and Laurice - talk about their experiences participating in the Mikva Challenge program. They share how Mikva offers a venue for them to engage in issues important to them and their community, for fostering positive relationships, and for developing confidence and a positive self concept.

Additional Readings and Resources

Mikva Challenge
“Youth Voice in the Middle Grades."
Ladder of Meaningful Youth Involvement.
“Motivation, Engagement and Student Voice."
"Measuring and Understanding Authentic Youth Engagement: The Youth-Adult Partnership Rubric."
“Youth-adult partnerships: Entering new territory in community work and research."
"Strengthening student voice initiatives in high schools: An examination of the supports Needed for school-based youth-adult partnerships."
"The adoption of innovation in youth organizations: Creating the conditions for youth-adult Partnerships."
“The psychology and practice of youth-adult partnership: Bridging generations for youth development and community change."

Remaking Middle School is launching a Middle School Listening Tour! If you are a parent, teacher, administrator, youth development professional, policy maker, or youth advocate of middle grade students, we would love to hear from you. Please visit http://RemakingMiddleSchool.org and click “Sign Up” for the Listening Tour.